How to Treat Teen Eating Problems

According to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, it is estimated that 8 million Americans have an eating disorder. Eating problems include disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating. Anorexics have an obsession with trying to lose weight and fear of getting fat; the South Carolina Department of Mental Health estimates that one in 200 Americans have anorexia. Bulimics purposely purge to try and avoid gaining weight; two in 100 Americans have bulimia. Treatment for teen eating disorders includes dietary, physical and mental help from a wide variety of specialists to try and treat the whole problem.

Nutritional Advice

• The goal of nutritional advice is to help the teen to create a safe and healthy eating plan. Many doctors will refer someone with eating disorders to a qualified nutritionist, who works with the teen to answer questions about food, calories and healthy eating. The nutritionist can discuss the myths of weight loss and how to maintain a healthy weight without starving or purging. Although nutritionists cannot offer quick cures, they can help teens to work towards positive food and body images.

Family Therapy

• Family therapy is a type of psychological help that includes the teen's family. The teen and her family attend therapy regularly to address any possible family issues the teen might have. Common problems may be communication difficulties, tension and difficult relationships and divorce. If the eating disorder is a manifestation of a difficult or strained home life, family therapy could help teach coping skills and conflict management to improve the situation.

Group Therapy

• Talking with others who have or had eating disorders could help the teen to understand his own problems. In group therapy the group may share stories and feelings and share his success over his eating disorder or the problems he has managing it.

Medication

• According to the National Health Service, the health care system in the United Kingdom, a medicine known as olanzapine could be useful in treating anorexia when other treatments have failed. It aims to reduce anxiety about weight. Doctors also might prescribe anti-depressants if the teen has depression, anti-anxiety medication if he suffers from anxiety or treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder when present. These don't treat the eating disorder directly, but perhaps the underlying problem.